There’s a New Station in the Neighbourhood Reconsidering the Architecture of the Skytrain Station Thomas Edmison There’s a New Station in the Neighbourhood Reconsidering the Architecture of the Skytrain Station Thomas Edmison Bachelor of Fine Arts, College for Creative Studies, 2012 Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Architecture’ in The Faculty of Graduate Studies, School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture, Architecture Program Committee AnnaLisa Meyboom - Chair Inge Roecker - Internal Committee Member Armen Mamourian - External Member (Carscadden Stokes McDonald Architects) Aaron Know - External Member (Perkins & Will) We accept this report as conforming to the required standard, AnnaLisa Meyboom Inge Roecker University of British Columbia, Thomas Edmison 12-2020 © Copyright Abstract As the skytrain system continues to grow in prominence the development of sta- tions seems poised to continue the approach of singular functionality with basic materiality, and little consideration of integration with site. Many recently built stations offer little value to surrounding communities as they function to fulfill the paradigm of transit oriented development with several factors constraining their design. This qualitative minimization undermines public perceptions of mass transit and thus inhibits the many benefits the system brings to the city. As more is invested in expanding Skytrain lines this approach will only continue to define much of Metro Vancouver’s urbanism for decades to come. Can a new approach be developed to enhance ridership and elevate the Skytrain station to and attractive public architecture? Figure 1 ii Table of Contents i Abstract v List of Figures ix Acknowledgments 14 1 Introduction 1.1 The Pandemic Prelude 1.2 Thesis Statement 20 2 The Daily Commute 2.1 A Public Sacrific 2.2 Issues and Defining Principles 30 3 A System Under Pressure 3.1 Population Growth and Increasing Ridership 3.2 Development of High Density Corridors 34 4 The Moscow Metro: Lessons from Moscow as Guidance for Vancouver 38 5 Precedents 5.1 Vancouver Precedents 5.2 International Precedents 50 6 Site 6.1 Arbutus & Broadway 6.2 Becoming a Temporary Transportation Hub 56 7 The New Station at Arbutus & Broadway 78 8 Works Cited iv List of Figures Figure 1 Abstract Collage. Source: Thomas Edmison Figure 2 Acknowledgments Image. Source: Thomas Edmison Introduction Figure 3 Covid-19 Alert. Source: Chad Coombs. Vancouver April 11 2020. April 11, 2020 Figure 4 Empty Downtown Street. Source: CBC News. A food delivery service member walks through downtown Vancouver on March 23, 2020. March 24, 2020 https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/coronavirus-update-bc-what- you-need-to-know-march-24-1.5507672 Figure 5 Christ Church Cathedral. Source: Waldero. Christ Church Cathedral Bell Tower, Vancouver, BC. November 19, 2016 https://www.flickr.com/photos/waledro/30394527113/in/photolist-p3dB1A- wGSxAU-6Du3E3-nVpRAH-nVGYsi-nVpRev-NiRTYV-P1C4Td-XNXp7r-2dgbpuv- Y4QhBb-Y4QkuW-Y929sV Figure 6 Brentwood Town Centre Station at Night. Source: Andrew McQuillan. Brentwood Town Centre Skytrain Station. January 15, 2018 https://www.flickr.com/photos/ffwoodycooks/39721321411/in/photolist-23w39Za- 8LVjWQ-UEsmem-4sbsVG-23JXLhB-qDZ4Hi-tH8Vd-7eCamQ-m27ifY-2cvwW- pR-6kFjEc-3o5oVU-2hnBG91-JZswBH-osN8z9-2iHWvSj-JuT2Kq-2in9ifS-7Pf1- J-5gDixJ-3LrMAW-cvUFYb-7Pf29-7Pf2i-3LnrYx-7Pf2v-91q8jC-91mfQt-91kboN- bnSpcf-ouL2fB-2h6p3pP-pGZdNS-m26sZi-y4sTtp-5LH7tB-2Zxivo-YW5hX7- 2gkvSvQ-2EY7j8-91jNPu-91msXM-91m1Tv-91kC9g-91q4Cu-91mUUD-91kViV- 91pa7E-91nzZb-91oCS5 Figure 7 Broadway - City Hall Rush Hour. Source: Kenneth Chan. SkyTrain dates: 8 things to do around Broadway-City Hall Station. August 4 2017 https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/skytrain-dates-8-things-to-do-around-broadway- city-hall-station Figure 8 Odenplan Station. Source: 3XN Architects. Odenplan Station. 2015 https://3xn.com/project/odenplan-station Figure 9 Expo Line Waterfront Station Platform. Source: Author’s Image Figure 10 Kings Cross Tunnel. Source: Geoff Henson. Kings Cross. January 2, 2019 https://www.flickr.com/photos/croydonclicker/46572964511/in/photolist-2dX- uBLK-2ioisyw-2iqwhY8-yrRb6L-23s9nNb-23XeC5V-2i4qRMk-GJxTxs-24hZu- pa-LaTuv5-TbcqLG-WEdjik-21mxf3t-MyAM7M-21YBig3-HDMhQo-MyAwh6-A9te- hq-o8Smkt-2g9C2rk-21rBJt7-2bocyEU-QskdKr-2h3uM9u-2hcSL4E-EzjtSc- XPbvWH-JGtpXY-2gQhXbp-KBu3W6-FHTjRZ-VVdn8P-XdEA7Q-2a5xD47-24SG- Ge2-Ntks9b-EAh9C9-K2btZC-2hDxaoG-CL2QUD-oKfhKd-qqR4JJ-HZWt9H-2itH- gWM-2hdV2XL-wq9xyb-2gZa8hN-2iyAjzC-2io6vA7-2h4xfJK Figure 11 Kálvin tér Station Platform. Source: Tamás Bujnovszky. Kálvin tér Station. 2014 https://www.archdaily.com/559104/budapest-underground-line-m4-kalvin-ter-sta- tion-palatium-studio?ad_source=search&ad_medium=search_result_projects Figure 12 Porte Marguerite de Navarre Entrance Escalators. Source: Pierre L’Ex- cellent. Porte Marguerite de Navarre. 2017 https://www.archdaily.com/874520/porte-marguerite-de-navarre-169-architec- ture?ad_source=search&ad_medium=search_result_projects Figure 13 Extension of Expo Line to Langley. Source: Translink. Proposed route and station locations for the Fraser Highway SkyTrain extension. Dec 9, 2018 https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/translink-skytrain-surrey-potential-timeline-de- cember-2018 Figure 14 Potential Brentwood Town Centre Developments. Source: Shape Prop- erties. Artistic rendering of the potential developments within the wider Brentwood Town Centre area beyond The Amazing Brentwood. May 27, 2019 https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/metro-vancouver-transit-oriented-develop- ments-skytrain-2019 Figure 15 Gilmore Place Rendering. Source: Onni Group. Artistic rendering of the first phase of Gilmore Place. May 27, 2019 https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/metro-vancouver-transit-oriented-develop- ments-skytrain-2019 Figure 16 Oakridge Centre Development. Source: Henriquez Partners Architects. View looking west at site. February 7,2019 https://www.westerninvestor.com/news/british-columbia/new-imag- es-for-oakridge-centre-redevelopment-revealed-1.23626880 Figure 17 Komsomolskaya Metro Station. Source: A.Savin Komsomolskaya (Circle Line) metro station in Moscow. January 19, 2018 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Komsomolskaya_(Koltsevaya_line)#/media/File:Mos- Metro_KomsomolskayaKL_img2_asv2018-01.jpg Figure 18 Smolenskaya Entrance. Source: Sergei Karpukhin / Reuters The en- trance to Smolenskaya metro station in Moscow, Russia, on February 25, 2016. February 25, 2016 https://www.theatlantic.com/photo/2017/05/scenes-from-the-moscow-met- ro/528660/ Figure 19 Broadway - City Hall Entrance. Source: Stephen Rees Broadway - City Hall Station. September 2, 2009 https://flickr.com/photos/stephen_rees/3883179192 Figure 20 Broadway - City Hall Platform. Source: Joe A. Kanzler Southbound Can- ada Line Pulling Up at Broadway-City Hall Station. June 18, 2019 https://flickr.com/photos/avgeekjoe/48304742726/ Figure 21 Line Up for 99. Source: CBC Vancouver commuters board the 99 B-line bus during rush hour. April 25, 2019 https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/translink-ridership- boardings-2018-stats-1.5111607 vi igure 22 Burrad Station Entrance. Source: Joel Mabel Entrance to Burrard Street SkyTrain Station, Vancouver, BC. September 3, 2010 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Burrard_station#/media/File:Vancouver_-_Burrard_Station_entrance_01.jpg Figure 23 Looking up Burrard Station Stairway. Source: Author’s Image Figure 24 Burrard Entry Hall. Source: Author’s Image Figure 25 View of Terraced Garden at Station Entrance. Source: Author’s Image Figure 26 Canopy of Spring Cherry Blossoms Next to Burrard Station. Source: Jason Statler Burrard Station. https://robsonstreet.ca/2018/03/cherry-blossom-season-onrobson/ Figure 27 Solntsevo Pavilion. Source: Ilya Ivanov Solntsevo Pavilion. 2018 https://www.archdaily.com/903546/solntsevo-metro-station-nefa-architects Figure 28 Plazas and Parks Around Solntsevo. Source: Google Maps 2020 Figure 29 Solntsevo Platform. Source: Ilya Ivanov Solntsevo Platform. 2018 https://www.archdaily.com/903546/solntsevo-metro-station-nefa-architects Figure 30 Station of Being with Orange Light. Source: Samuel Peterson Station of Being. December 2019 https://www.designboom.com/architecture/rombout-frieling-lab-station-of-be- ing-sweden-12-17-2019/ Figure 31 Station of Being with Blue Light. Source: Samuel Peterson Station of Being. December 2019 https://www.designboom.com/architecture/rombout-frieling-lab-station-of-be- ing-sweden-12-17-2019/ Figure 32 Fornebu Senter Station Pavilion Render. Source: ZHA and A_Lab Forne- bu Senter Station. December 6, 2018 https://www.middleeastarchitect.com/41460-zaha-hadid-architects-sign-on-to- design-metro-project-in-oslo-with-norway-practice-alab Figure 33 Fornebuporten Station North Entrance Render. Source: ZHA and A_Lab The north entrance to Fornebuporten Station. December 6, 2018 https://www.middleeastarchitect.com/41460-zaha-hadid-architects-sign- on-to-design-metro-project-in-oslo-with-norway-practice-alab Figure 34 Platform Lighting Change. Source: Zaha Hadid Architects Plat- form Lighting Change. December 5, 2018 https://www.designboom.com/architecture/zaha-hadid-oslo-metro-sta- tions-fornebubanen-line-norway-12-05-2018/ Figure 35 Site Image 1. Source: Author Figure 36 Site Image 2. Source: Google Maps / Author Figure 37 Site Image 3. Source: Google Maps / Author Figure 38 Site Image 4. Source: Author Figure 39 Street View of Site Image 1. Source: Google Maps Figure 40 Street View of Site Image 2. Source: Google Maps Figure 41 Site Image